Case for cigarettes and the like.



T. F. HATHAWAY. CASE FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26.1917.

Patented 11111612, 1917.

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THOMAS F. I-IA'IHAWAY, OF ELGIN,,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ILLINOIS WATCH CASE (30., OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS cnsn ron cienanrrns AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, Twi l.

Application filed January 26, 1917. Serial No. 144,751.

T 0 all whom it play concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F, Hartm- WAY, a citizen of the United S'ates, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cases for Cigarettes and the like, of which the following is a specification.

in the present invention, 1 have aimed to produce a serviceable case for small articles, such as cigarettes and the like, which is simple and reliable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is provided with novel and improved means for contralizing the position of the holder relative to the case covers when opened. It is also an object of my invention to construct a case of the fewest possible parts, and in which the parts may be assembled easily. These and other objects are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1. is a transverse section through a case designed to accommodate cigarettes, which embodies the improvements of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section, taken on line 22 of Fig. i, showing the case covers open;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, taken on line 33 of Fig. 4;

Fig. d is a transverse section at right angles to the views of Figs. 2 and 3, taken on line 4- l of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4L, taken on line 5-5 of Fig, 2.

The present case employs two covers 6 having inturned edges 7 to provide between the covers a compartment intended to receive small articles such as cigarettes and the like. A pintle 8 is arranged to cooperate with suitable joints 9 formed on the covers to establish a pivotal connection there between. Mounted on the Same pintle, centrally thereof, is a coiled spring 10, the ends 11 of which extend one toward each cover for purposes to be presently explained. Sleeves 12 are also mounted on the pintle, a pin 13 being projected radially from each sleeve. Upon the meeting edges of the covers, bezels 1d are formed, except along those edges where the pivotal connection is made. A suitable catch 15 is provided for holding the covers together.

Between the covers I have arranged a holder, designated generally as 16, intended for the reception of small articles. The particular form of the holder may be varied to suit requirements, the one illustrated being designed for the accommodation of two rows of cigarettes. In the holder shown are two side plates 17, each having its lower edge ontturned and jointed to a pintle 18, and a coiled spring 20 to which a leaf 19 also secured. The plates and leaves are suitably corrugated in a radial direction to provide pockets in the holder for the reception of cigarettes. The side plates are arranged close together, but because of their corrugations or urululations provide atintervals between them spaces into which the pins 13 may enter. No pivotal connection is provided between the holder and case other than that aiforded by the loose engagement of the pins 13 between the side plates 17.

Formed 011 the lower end of the holder on each side of the pintle are two lugs 21 one adjacent each end 11 of the coiled spring 10. Each lug arranged to rest upon the cdver, or against its hinged edge, at all. times. A slot having a recess therein is provided on each lug, within which one end of the spring 10 is hooked. As the spring ends tend al- \\'ays to bear down upon the covers, it follows that each of the lugs 21 will normally remain in engagement with its proximate cover. For this reason, the holder from which the lugs depend will be held in a cen-- tralized position between the covers at all times. In the construction described, the holder may be attached or detached relative to the case by simply unhooking the spring ends 11 from the lugs 21. Vhile this may be easily accomplished with the aid of a proper instrument, it is to be noted that the recessed character of the slots 22 acts to prevent accidental disengagement of the spring ends from the lugs.

I claim:

1. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two covers each formed with complementary joints, a pintle extended through the joints to form a pivotal connection between the covers, a coiled spring arranged upon the pintle with the ends thereof exerting pressure in the direction of the covers to open the same, pins eXtend ed radially into the case, a holder mounted on the pins, and members depending from the holder on opposite sides of the pintle and adapted to engage with the covers, the ends of the spring being engaged with the members to maintain the holder in central position, between the covers, substantially as described.

2. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two covers formed with complementary joints, a pintle extended through the joints to establish a pivotal connection between the covers, sleeves on the pintle provided each with a pin extending radially between the covers, a torsional. spring between the covers tending to open the same, a holder loosely mounted on the pins provided with members on opposite sides thereof with which the spring ends engage to maintain the holder in position against the pivotally connected ends of the covers, the members on the holders being adapted to rest against each cover to centrally position the same with respect to the case covers, substantially as described.

3. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two covers each formed with complementary joints, a pintle extended through the joints to establish a pivotal connection between the covers, a torsional spring arranged upon the pintle having its ends exerting an opening tendency on the covers, a holder loosely arranged, between the covers, guiding means for maintaining the holder in a fixed position longitudinally of the pintle, and lugs formed on the holder one on each side of the pintle adapted to rest against the covers, there being an opening in each lug within which an end of the torsional spring may lie to maintain the holder adjacent the pivotal end of the case and centrally between the covers, substantially as described.

4. In a case of the kind described, the combination of two covers, a pivotal connection between the covers, a torsional spring arranged in co-axial relation with the pivotal connection, and a holder between the covers movable toward and from the pivotal connection and engaged by the spring ends,

substantially as described.

THOMAS F. HATHAWAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

